Moving in the right direction; but slow

[Pirate69]

Well I have received my 434250 mold and have cast a few bullets. It is a plain base mold and is dropping them 0.433-0.434". I plan on shooting the bullets in my Marlin Model 1894 (44 Rem. Mag). The first loads will be approximately 1100 feet per second. The lead is not as hard as I had hoped and I am concerned with leading. I can scratch it with my fingernail.

Looking down the road, how can I increase velocity without worrying about leading? Do I need to think about heat treating the bullets? I am to the point where I know just enough to get myself in trouble. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[cobbmtmac]

Pirate69,
Many more will chime in here. I have only been a caster for 6 years, but hang with guys that have been casting for 40-50 years!
Don't know what kind of lead you are using, but most popular form is Wheel Weights. The consences seems to be WW plus 2% tin and you are good to go! The easest way to get tin is to buy lead free solder. It is 95% tin and 5 % antimony.
Roll out 140 grains of this solder for each 1 lb ingot you put in your pot. I painted a spot on a shelf that is 6 & 3/8th inches long and cut to that length. You can check it on your scale, it should be right at 140grs.
Hope this is helpful. :Fire: (1 lb. of WW lead to 140grs of tin)

[Edubya]

You might find those to be just right. What powders are you planning on using? Something like 2400, 296 or H110 will move that boolit without the tremendous shock that Unique or some faster burning powder will. Probably would find 2400 to be available for a variety of loads, it's more flexible.
EW

[runfiverun]

wait a week to scratch those boolits again.
i push ww's with 25% soft and 1% tin over 1600
through my leverguns with plain bases you donot need 50 bhn boolits.
10 bhn is enough.

[JIMinPHX]

1100fps out of a rifle ain't that fast. You aren't pushing those boolits hard at all. Something on the soft side should be a good choice. A .22LR goes that fast & those little .22 slugs are made out of really soft stuff.

[Pirate69]

Thanks everyone. I have 2400, Bullseye and RedDot available. Unique is on order. I think I will start with about 15 grains of 2400 and work up from there.

[runfiverun]

you'll have unburnt grains of 2400 at 15 i'd try a mag primer if you have some sitting around.
you should be able to find a load for the red dot close to what you want.

[Echo]

I would look at a max of 22 grains of 2400 - 15 grains is weak. Start at 18 grains.